When you use the simplified online Firefox Installer described in the How to install Firefox on Windows article, you can’t make any changes to the installation, such as the program folder where Firefox is installed. This article explains how to customize your Firefox installation with the full, offline installer.

Where to download Firefox for a custom installation

You can download the Firefox Setup file in your language, from this Firefox download page. Note: You can install the 32-bit version of Firefox on 64-bit Windows but 64-bit Firefox is recommended. On 32-bit systems, only the 32-bit version of Firefox can be installed.

How to install Firefox with custom settings

When you run the Firefox Setup file, the Mozilla Firefox Setup Wizard will open.

After clicking Next you can choose a Standard or Custom installation. The Standard setup will be selected by default.

A Custom setup lets you choose the folder where Firefox program files will be installed, as well as which shortcuts to create. These options are not available in a Standard setup. Select the Custom setup type and click Next.

Choose where Firefox is installed

The next step is where you can choose a different Destination Folder, which is where the Firefox program will be installed.

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\ is the default folder path on 32-bit Windows. It’s also the default location on 64-bit Windows when the 64-bit Firefox version is installed.

When the 32-bit Firefox version is installed on 64-bit Windows, the default folder path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\

You can change the folder where Firefox will be installed either by manually typing the location of another folder on your computer or you can click Browse… to select a new folder.

• Space required: The amount of space on your hard drive that’s needed to install Firefox.
• Space available: The amount of space available on your hard drive.

Click Next to continue.

Choose optional components

In the next screen, you can choose whether to install the optional Mozilla Maintenance Service which allows application updates to occur in the background, without requiring you to click Yes in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog. For more information. Note: This option may be missing in some cases, as when installing Firefox with a limited user account or when the Mozilla Maintenance Service is already installed.

Choose shortcuts

• On my Desktop: You can choose to create a Firefox shortcut icon on the Windows Desktop.
• In my Start Menu Programs folder: This will create a Firefox shortcut icon in the Windows Start Menu Programs folder.

After choosing which Firefox program shortcuts to create, click Next.Note: If you already have a Firefox shortcut from another installation you wish to keep, you should rename the existing shortcut before you finish installing Firefox; otherwise, it will be overwritten.

Summary

The Summary that comes up next will show the folder location where Firefox will be installed.

If you are reinstalling Firefox over an existing version, you’ll see an Upgrade button instead of an Install button.

Click Install or Upgrade to complete the installation. When Firefox is finished installing, the “Completing the Mozilla Firefox Setup Wizard” screen will appear.

Click Finish. This will start Firefox unless you first clear the “Launch Firefox now” checkbox.

Congratulations, you are done installing Firefox!